21 July 2015
Attempt in progress to restart infant care
Since late June when the Boys and Girls Club shut down their Quality Child Care of Florence daycare, there has been no facility that provides care for infants and toddlers of working parents.
Rob Spooner, who was originally active in the drive to create QCCF five years ago, is working hard to revive the center. But, he says, he can’t do it alone.
Rob Spooner – “If we’re going to make infant and child care happen in Florence, then there has to be a definite expression of interest from people in the community: people telling us that in fact if we had the service they would bring their infants and toddlers. Other people saying that the whole idea excites them enough that they would like to come down and volunteer their time and money or whatever.”
Spooner will be pitching his proposal to the Florence Kiwanis Club next week. He would like that organization to purchase the QCCF building next to the middle school. He is hoping the service club would act as the financial agent for what he sees as a community wide effort.
Fire Board to “revisit” firing
A special meeting at six this evening at the main fire station will give members of the Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue board of directors a chance to “revisit” last week’s firing of Chief Jim Langborg.
Lori Gates, who initially made the motion to fire Langborg following an executive session July 15th, called for the meeting along with fellow board members John Scott and Woody Woodbury. Scott and Woodbury voted against firing Langborg.
John Carnahan, who has also been an employee of the department, had moved to fire Langborg right after Carnahan had been sworn in to the board and elected board president. That motion failed, but was revived later in the meeting.
Gates said since the action she has received “a lot of input” on the matter.
After a three year absence, Archie is returning…
The popular 4 ½ acre Archie Knowles campground and wayside along Highway 126 east of Mapleton is expected to reopen in the spring of 2016. Lane County won a nearly $85-thousand grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to renovate the facility. They will update the restrooms, water and electrical systems in the park; as well as pave all the campsite spurs.
The county is still in the process of finalizing an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service to operate the creek-side park.
The Forest Service closed it in 2012, citing the condition of the park as well as the location. It was well away from other forest parks.
After a public outcry, Lane County Parks was able to negotiate a tentative agreement to take over operations. Archie Knowles will be the 69th park and fifth campground operated by the county.
It was named for the son of area pioneers… Archie Knowles went on to become a Forest Service Ranger.
SOS to show off
An open house this Thursday Evening at Siuslaw Outreach Services will provide a glimpse at the recently completed makeover there.
A $110-thousand remodel was finished earlier this month. Work included a new roof structure and entry door on the outside; plus a lot of remodeling inside. The cost of the upgrade was funded by a series of grants and donations specifically for that cause.
Staff members will give tours of the improvements between 4:00 and 5:30 PM this Thursday.
SOS is located at 1576 12th Street, between the Elks Lodge and the Florence Nazarene Church.
Family pet dies in house fire
Neighbors are receiving credit for preventing further damage to a home that burned in the Heceta Beach Area Saturday evening. They attacked flames spreading across the outside of a cedar shake covered home at Third Avenue and Joshua Lane with garden hoses; slowing them down until firefighters arrived.
Siuslaw Valley Battalion Chief John Carnahan said the fire appeared to have started on an outside deck on the home’s 2nd story. It heavily damaged a bedroom and the home’s exterior.
The homeowners, Terry and Kim Leo, were not at home at the time, but two family dogs were in the house. One of them did not survive; despite attempts by firefighters to resuscitate it.
The cause of the blaze was traced to a gas barbecue on the second level deck. Nobody was injured.
Watershed council to talk algae; habitat restoration
Area residents can learn more about what causes blue-green algae blooms in lakes and streams; as well as how scientists track them; next week during a special presentation by the Siuslaw Watershed Council.
Council coordinator Liz Vollmer-Buhl said Dr. Tim Otten with Oregon State University will talk about scientific tools and data that have expanded knowledge on how the toxins in the blue-green algae develop and grow.
Paul Burns will also give an update that evening about a major habitat restoration project that took place on 600 acres east of Tahkenitch Lake. The work will aid endangered Coho salmon.
The Watershed Council meets next Wednesday, the 29th, at the West Woahink Meeting Hall at Honeyman State Park; it begins at 6:30.
